SQM vs BSAC Comparison

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile is a Chilean commodities producer with significant operations in lithium (primarily used in batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems), specialty and standard potassium fertilizers, iodine (primarily used in X-ray contrast media), and solar salts. The company extracts these materials through its high-quality salt brine deposits and caliche ore. SQM also sells lithium concentrate from a joint venture hard rock lithium project in Australia and expanding its lithium refining assets in China.

Founded in 1978, Banco Santander Chile is part of Santander Group and majority-controlled by Santander Spain. It is the largest bank in Chile by loans and the second largest by deposits. The bank generates most of its net interest income (roughly 65% of total revenue) from its mortgages, unsecured consumer credit lines, and commercial loans. Banco Santander's commercial loan business is more focused on small- to medium-size companies, with firms generating more than CLP 10,000 million in revenue only making up around 5% of outstanding loans. Outside of lending, Banco Santander is the largest card issuer in the country with around 25% of the market and benefits from a long-term strategic partnership with the largest airline in the country, LATAM.